A Stocked Kitchen Makes Quick Cooking a Breeze

I thought it might be helpful to share what ingredients I keep
stocked in my pantry (and fridge) to allow me to prepare quick,
home-cooked meals everyday. I do have non-perishable staples which I
consider essential to my cooking, but I don't have a lot of storage
space in my tiny kitchen (the equivalent of one small kitchen
cupboard for all canned goods etc.) so I try not to keep too much on
hand. Here's what you can find in my kitchen
right now:

Pasta: various shapes, but mainly spaghetti and penne (our faves).
I buy Barilla or DeCecco for everyday pastas and I stock up when they
are on sale. I prefer dried pasta to fresh pasta, but I do make fresh
pasta once or twice a year and freeze any leftover dough.

Assorted meats/poultry (for example, we stock up on whole chickens and rib-eyes when they are on sale)

stock in plastic tubs

pie crust

On the counter

garlic, bananas, avocados, tomatoes, other fruit in season

As far as spices go, unless I am cooking something that requires a
specific spice or blend of spices (like Indian, Mexican, or Morrocan dishes) I
don't really use them everyday. I prefer to stick with salt, pepper,
and fresh herbs.

I also shop for veggies at my local Farmer's Market so what is in my
fridge depends on what looked good that day. Rare is the
vegetable or fruit that my girls won't eat and we try to keep an abundance
around for her.

I try to buy seafood the day I cook it.

Lastly, we don't eat meat everyday. We eat lots of fish and red
meat no more than once per week (if that). I am not a fan of chicken
unless it is roasted and that I will do once or twice a month. We
probably eat more pork than anything else. I love soup so I make some
form of soup about once a week and my soups are usually veg based with
meat as flavoring if it is included at all.

I know this list seems long, but most of the pantry items on this list can last for weeks or months if stored properly. If you have a well-stocked fridge and pantry, basic meal components are at your fingertips and cooking is a breeze. What do you always have on hand for quick meals?

Posted by Stefania Pomponi Butler

Stefania Pomponi Butler, author of the City Mama blog, is a writer and blog editor/producer. Stefania is obsessed with pop culture, flat-ironing, karaoke, and moisturizing. She lives in Silicon Valley, CA, with her husband (and his pile of laundry), their two impossibly cute (and very loud) girls, and about 2,649 plastic horses. Read More

Believe it or not, you can keep your passion for food and cooking alive even after you have kids. Focusing on fresh, local, organic ingredients, Cooking Mama will help you plan and cook delicious, simple, "gourmet" meals the whole family will enjoy.
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